Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rnote VS Dendron

Compare Rnote VS Dendron and see what are their differences

Rnote logo Rnote

Rnote is a vector-based drawing app for sketching, handwritten notes and to annotate documents and pictures.Disclaimer: The file format is still unstable. It might change and break compatibility between versions.

Dendron logo Dendron

Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.
  • Rnote Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Dendron Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-27

Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. Like most such tools, Dendron supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth. But it doesn't stop there - whereas most tools (try to make it) easy to get notes in, they tend to make it hard to get them back out later, and it only gets worse as you add more notes. Dendron helps you get notes back out and works better the more notes you have.

Rnote

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Dendron

Website
dendron.so
$ Details
freemium $5.0 / Monthly (Custom domain name for publishing.)
Platforms
Windows Mac OSX Linux
Release Date
2020 July

Rnote features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Dendron features and specs

  • Hierarchical Note-Taking
    Dendron uses a hierarchical note-taking system which allows users to easily organize and categorize their notes in a nested structure. This makes it easy to find and manage related notes.
  • Integration with VSCode
    Dendron is built as an extension for Visual Studio Code, which provides robust editing features, extensions, and familiarity for developers already using VSCode.
  • Markdown Support
    Dendron uses Markdown for note formatting, which is widely-used and appreciated for its simplicity and readability.
  • Cross-Platform
    Because it runs within Visual Studio Code, Dendron is available on any platform that supports VSCode, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Open Source
    Dendron is open-source, which means it is free to use and its development is community-driven. Users can contribute to its development and customize it as needed.
  • Local-first
    Notes are stored locally, which means users have full control over their data and can work offline without any issues.
  • Extensible
    Dendronโ€™s functionality can be extended through plugins and custom scripts, allowing users to tailor it to their specific needs.
  • Rich Features
    Dendron includes advanced features such as backlinks, note references, and graph views, which offer a more interconnected and rich note-taking experience.

Possible disadvantages of Dendron

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Dendron's hierarchical system and the extensive features might be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant amount of time to learn and adapt.
  • Dependence on VSCode
    Dendron being a VSCode extension means that users are bound to the capabilities and limitations of the VSCode environment. Users who prefer other editors may find this restricting.
  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for users who are not already familiar with VSCode or the concept of hierarchical note-taking.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    There is no dedicated mobile app, making it less convenient for users who need to access and edit their notes on the go.
  • Performance Impact
    Running Dendron within VSCode might affect the performance of the editor, particularly when handling large volumes of notes or extensive hierarchies.
  • Search Limitations
    The search functionality, while robust, might not match the power and speed of purpose-built note-taking applications, potentially hindering productivity for heavy users.
  • Fragmented Documentation
    While comprehensive, the documentation can be fragmented and difficult to navigate for users seeking specific information or troubleshooting guidance.
  • Developer Focused
    Dendron is primarily geared towards developers and tech-savvy users, which may alienate non-developer users looking for a simple and intuitive note-taking tool.

Analysis of Dendron

Overall verdict

  • Dendron is a powerful and flexible tool, particularly well-suited for users who appreciate a structured approach to note-taking and knowledge management. However, it might have a learning curve for those unfamiliar with markdown or Visual Studio Code.

Why this product is good

  • Dendron is considered a good tool by many users because it offers robust features for personal knowledge management. It integrates well with Visual Studio Code, allowing users to leverage familiar tools. Dendron's hierarchical note-taking system makes it ideal for organizing large volumes of information in a structured manner. Additionally, its ability to support multiple note-taking methodologies, such as Zettelkasten, and its community-driven development approach are often highlighted as strengths.

Recommended for

    Dendron is recommended for developers, technical professionals, or anyone comfortable with markdown and looking for a highly organized system. It's also suitable for users who want a tool that can scale with their knowledge database and integrate seamlessly with their coding environment.

Rnote videos

Issue with RNote on Ubuntu.

Dendron videos

Dendron Getting Started - An alternative note taking app for PKM / To Do / Journal

More videos:

  • Review - Dendron
  • Review - Dendron farm attack protest: Hundreds make their way to Morebeng (Soekmekaar)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rnote and Dendron)
Note Taking
23 23%
77% 77
Todos
100 100%
0% 0
Markdown Editor
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
36 36%
64% 64

User comments

Share your experience with using Rnote and Dendron. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Rnote and Dendron

Rnote Reviews

We have no reviews of Rnote yet.
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Dendron Reviews

  1. Team is very supportive
  2. Disk defragmenter, for your brain

    Dendron is the first note-taking tool I've found that scales well with growth. Note references, easy refactoring tools and searchable hierarchies (now with fuzzy matching!) make it easier to maintain notes, and a built-in publishing tool and the ability to quickly copy links to notes makes it much easier to share notes with friends and colleagues.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Vscode integration|Open-source|Local support|Publishing workflow
  3. kevinslin8
    ยท Founder at Dendron ยท
    Lightweight note taking that scales up to organizational knowledge base

    Dendron's use of flexible hierarchies works the same way that I think. It helps me organize and manage 20k+ markdown notes and its constantly getting better with weekly updates!

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Obsidian.md, Roam Research, Notion
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Flexible hierarchies|Fast|Local first|Open-source|Vscode integration|Keyboard driven
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    No standalone client|Technical interface

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Dendron should be more popular than Rnote. It has been mentiond 22 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Rnote mentions (7)

  • Been urbancarliving for ~2 years now. Here's my battle station. I use Arch btw ;)
    It runs great! There's a few quirks since I'm not using the linux-firmware-full-surface-pro-3 , but other than that it's awesome. (it just has some issues recognizing when the flip cover is open once closed.) I especially love using Rnote with it. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I HATE CAPACITORS!!! What happens after you discharge a capacitor? Laplace transforms, integrals,...
    It's available on https://flathub.org/apps/details/com.github.flxzt.rnote for all Linux distributions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best compatible apps, extensions and tweaks for Linux on convertible laptops
    - Rnote : Follows Gnome HIG, but doesn't have input stabilization (the pen is not smoothed and is the least fluid I find. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • An ode to Flatpak (and Fedora Silverblue)
    Flatpak also allowed me to greatly simplify my documentation, as most (apart from packages not available as a Flatpak) of the software installation process is now the same across all Linux distributions, no matter if I use Fedora, Ubuntu or Arch. And finally, I am now always excited whenever I see someone posting about their new Linux application with a link to Flathub, so that one can try it immediately. No need... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Fedora a good choice for school, stability-wise? Also, KDE or GNOME for Surface pro (touch + stylus)?
    Recently found Rnote and its the best one I've seen so far. These are for handwritten/drawing stuff. For typed notes, I just use notion. Source: about 4 years ago
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Dendron mentions (22)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rnote and Dendron, you can also consider the following products

Xournal++ - Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with GTK3, supporting Linux (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), macOS and Windows 10. Supports pen input fr...

CherryTree - A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

Notesnook - Notesnook is a simple and private note taking app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer.

Zim Wiki - Zim is a graphical text editor used to maintain a collection of wiki pages. Each page can contain links to other pages, simple formatting and images.

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Zettlr - Write Markdown documents with a comprehensive GUI and many workflow/time management tools.